The Unique History of the Algonquin Hotel; InterContinental Chicago’s Green Initiative; Air Jamaica’s New Baggage Policy; CheapOAir’s Affordable Airfare; The Volvo Ocean Race Departs Boston; What’s Going on in Campgrounds Around the Country.
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Sabrams.com will soon post a “Best of 2009” picture galley featuring various categories and venues related to travel. On the list of Stephanie’s favorite historic hotels is the Algonquin Hotel.
The General Manager of the historic Algonquin Hotel, Gary Budge, returns to “Travel with Stephanie Abrams” to discuss the impressive history of the Algonquin. The Algonquin Hotel is centrally located in Manhattan on 59 West 44th St. between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Manhattan at the center of it all. It is within close proximity to Broadway shows, Club Row, Times Square, 5th avenue, Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park. For a NYC tourist it is a convenient location for theater, retail and other midtown Manhattan itineraries.
The Algonquin has several unique features including the consistent presence of an “Algonquin Cat” and an upstairs hallway wallpapered with “New Yorker” cartoons. The Algonquin was the site of a literary roundtable comprised of people employed in media and the arts. Many members later went on to write for the “New Yorker” after it was founded in 1925.
The Algonquin has always been located near the theater district and as a result it attracted many writers and celebrities associated with early 20th century media when it opened. In 1919 a small group of writers hosted a luncheon in honor of returning WWI correspondent Alexander Woolcott. This was the birth of the Roundtable. Notable members include writer Dorothy Parker, humorist and actor Robert Benchley, columnist Heywood Broun, comedic actor Harpo Marx. The group met daily for lunch at the hotel where they exchanged quips, incredible repartee and sometimes made biting remarks. This earned them the nickname “the vicious circle”.
Find more information at http://www.algonquinhotel.com or call 212-419-9331.
During her recent visit to Mexico Stephanie met with people associated with InterContinental Presidente at Tianguis. The InterContinental Hotel Group is a respected brand that is always looking for ways to improve itself. The InterContinental Chicago has recently launched a green initiative. The hotel has already received three green certifications including Energy Star, Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association “StayGreen” certification and recently the Silver level of the Green Seal. The InterContinental Chicago’s green policies include using energy efficient light bulbs, giving guests the option to reuse linen, installing special devices in sinks and toilets, putting wall mounted dispensers in the bathrooms, using core-less toilet paper rolls and using eco-friendlier paints.
The InterContinental Chicago is located on the “magnificent mile” which is the most famous part of Michigan Avenue. It is the top northern end of the city and runs from the Chicago River up to Lake Michigan. Each Saint Patrick’s Day the city makes the Chicago River green and the InterContinental Chicago overlooks this spectacle. A unique distinction of the hotel is that it is the only hotel on the magnificent mile that has an entrance on the avenue and not through a side street. Another great attraction of Chicago is Millennium Park which is located three blocks from the hotel. Visitors of the city can tour the park by partaking in Segway rides.
The InterContinental Chicago has 792 guestrooms including sixty suites. Suites range from presidential, vice presidential, executive and junior levels. The lobby area is a six story high rotunda with Florida ceiling windows that look out over Michigan Avenue. There is a busy lobby bar that offers specialty cocktails and an onsite Starbucks also located on the lobby level. The hotel has several restaurants including the ENO dining experience, a cheese, chocolate and wine bar. Products are supplied by small artisanal producers from the Midwest. One specialty chocolate that is particularly popular at the hotel is a sea salt and caramel chocolate.
For more information visit http://www.icchicagohotel.com/
Guests Include:
Gary Budge, General Manager, The Algonquin Hotel, New York City, NY.
www.algonquinhotel.com
Edward Andrews, General Manager, Intercontinental Chicago Hotel.
www.icchicagohotel.com
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Air Jamaica is implementing a new policy that will apply to the airline’s New York-Grenada and New York-Barbados routes. Passengers flying economy class will be permitted to check one bag for free but will be charged $25 for an additional piece of checked baggage. The second item will not arrive with the traveler at their final destination but rather be transported within seven days of the customer’s departure date. It will also not be delivered to the passenger at their hotel but rather be kept at the airport until the passenger is able to come retrieve it.
Stephanie has had wonderful experiences with Air Jamaica in the past and speaks highly about their Lovebird Executive service. This new policy however seems both inconvenient and unreasonable. If Stephanie were to arrive in JFK after a vacation to Grenada or Barbados, she would have to drive home to the Berkshires and then drive back to New York a week later to pick up her extra luggage. This would mean having to make an additional roundtrip car ride of 300 plus miles.
Click here to read Stephanie’s blog entry on Air Jamaica’s new luggage policy.
By flying in to Belfast rather than Shannon Airport and leaving one day earlier and departing one day later, Stephanie was able to dramatically reduce the cost of May flight to Ireland. She is flying with Continental from Newark to Belfast and then will depart Shannon to fly back to Newark.
CheapOAir offers affordable airfare with many of the recognized low cost carriers including Jet Blue, Spirit and Virgin America. The company also does business with Virgin Atlantic and provides exclusive fares to London and beyond. Unlike other online travel agencies and websites such as Orbitz, CheapOAir is not owned by airlines. Some websites only use airlines that are member partners of their group. CheapOAir connects directly with the low cast carriers.
CheapOAir provides 400 different fare options during each online search. It specializes in airfare which allows the company to focus its energies on getting its customers the absolute best rates. The company’s website provides an easy two step booking process.
Certain airports in Europe do not charge passengers tax if they are just connecting through the city. An example is that if you were to travel through Brussels you wouldn’t have to pay the local tax. CheapOAir is able to offer airfare from New York to Paris via Brussels for just $448 USD roundtrip plus tax. This rate is applicable to travel before mid-June.
For more information visit http://www.cheapoair.com/
The boats in the Volvo Ocean Race left Boston on May 16th and are now headed to Ireland. Stephanie will be present for the ships’ arrivals in Galway on May 24, 2009. “Travel with Stephanie Abrams” will broadcast live from the Glenlo Abbey Hotel in Bushy Park, County Galway. Stephanie stopped and visited the Bourke family at Glenlo Abbey during her last trip to Ireland at the end of March. With a minor twist of the arm Stephanie was convinced to return to Galway in May. The Volvo Ocean Race Fleet will be stationed for a two-week long celebration in the city.
For more information visit http://www.glenlo.com/
Click here see pictures of the fleet in Boston.
Guests Include:
Sam Jain, CEO, CheapOAir.
www.cheapoair.com
Topics Include:
You can upload up to 5,000 photos on the Travelers411 Community Forum. Registration is free and you can share pictures with friends and family and the travel community. Stephanie encouraged her listeners who travel to post pictures of their experiences.
Click here to get started.
As summer approaches there is the usual increase in camping activity. It is predicted that 2009 will be an especially big year for camping. People are expected to be camping for longer periods and to do more camping than they had in previous years. Campgrounds today often offer onsite rental units such as RVs, parked trailers, yurts (walled tents), tepees and cabins. If you are cutting back on vacation expenses for your budget this year, camping is a great way to travel and experience different areas.
For more information visit http://www.gocampingamerica.com/
Much of the population is still averse to camping because it is believed that they have to forgo comfort. Campgrounds have greatly modernized in recent years. Rental units allow campers to enjoy the outdoors experience without having to invest a large amount of money into buying housing units or equipment. The Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners is one of many well-established associations that provide clean and safe facilities.
Campgrounds are consistently updating their sites and providing new amenities. Camping is an extremely family friendly experience and many sites offer activities like miniature golf, jumping pillows, large playgrounds and a schedule of events and activities. The Vista Royalle Campgrounds in Wisconsin has an onsite swimming and fishing pond. No permit is required to fish on the grounds. Vista Royalle also puts on concerts and has movie nights. Scott Kollock, Owner of the Vista Royalle states that, “When the kids are happy, mom and dad are happy as well”.
For more information visit http://www.vistaroyalle.com/
Angels Camp RV and Camping Resort is located in the gorgeous north corner of the foothills of California in gold country. It is an 18 acre campground, half of which is newly developed. The resort offers cabins, lodges (RVs with mini kitchens) and also two bedroom apartments. There is a huge reservoir on site, the New Melones Lake, which has 100 miles of shoreline. Guests can swim and fish in New Melones. The surrounding area has historic gold mining sites, caverns, vineyards, antique shops and concert venues which feature big name entertainment.
Camping is a green activity to begin with and Angels Camp makes it even greener. The campgrounds initiated a solar project in the fall of 2008. Solar panels have been set up on an acre of field on the grounds to produce electricity for the camp.
For more information visit http://www.angelscamprv.com/
Travel Tips:
Stephanie recommends first time campers stay within 150 miles of home and plan to stay at one location for a few days.
Guests Include:
Linda Profaizer, President & CEO, National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds.
www.gocampingamerica.com
Scott Kollock, Owner, Vista Royalle Campground. President, Wisconsin Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
www.vistaroyalle.com
www.wisconsincampgrounds.com
Ken Jeffries, Owner, Angels Camp RV & Camping Resort.
www.angelscamprv.com
